function conv_conjugate=G_star(P1,P2,epsilon_sim, u_starting, number_starting, options)

         fval=NaN(number_starting,1);
         exitflag=NaN(number_starting,1);

         parfor t=1:number_starting
             try
             coeff=u_starting(t,:).';  %starting values, column vector
             [~,fval_temp,exitflag_temp]=fminunc(@(x)obj(x,P1,P2,epsilon_sim),coeff, options);
             fval(t)=fval_temp;
             exitflag(t)=exitflag_temp;
            catch 
             end
         end

         fval(exitflag>0,:);
         
         conv_conjugate=-min(fval);
         
end